Louis van Gaal names Wayne Rooney as the new Manchester United captain

CAP'N ROO: Rooney has been named Manchester United's new club captain [GETTY]

Rooney follows Nemanja Vidic, who departed Old Trafford this summer for Inter Milan, as the club's captain while Darren Fletcher has been named as vice.

The 28-year-old described it as a huge honour and said he was grateful to new manager Louis van Gaal.

Rooney moved to Old Trafford in 2004 in a £27m deal from Everton.

He has won five league titles and is the club's third highest goalscorer, behind only Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, with 216.

“He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role”

Louis van Gaal

The former Dutch manager had been expected to name his countryman Robin van Persie, who captained Holland at the World Cup, as United's new skipper but cited Rooney's attitude during pre-season as one of the reasons for his appointment.

"For me it's always very important the choice of captain," said Van Gaal.

"Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy.

"He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role."

Rooney said: "It is a huge honour for me – and for my family – to be named captain of this great club. It is a role I will perform with great pride. Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me. I look forward to leading the team out on Saturday at our first match of the new season."

Rooney is also expected to be named England captain by Roy Hodgson following the international retirement of Steven Gerrard.